Potential Action Mechanism and Inhibition Efficacy of Morinda citrifolia Essential Oil and Octanoic Acid against Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum Infestations

The use of plant-based products has been shown to efficiently inhibit fungi-mediated diseases in agricultural crops. Here, we extracted and evaluated the composition of noni, Morinda citrifolia L., essential oil and assessed its activities against Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum in Cucumis melo L. Using in silico molecular approaches, potential interactions between the essential oil major components and S. cucurbitacearum tyrosine-tRNA ligase were predicted. Finally, we also measured the potential interference of plant physiology (the stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis) mediated by the application of the M. citrifolia essential oil. Chromatographic analysis revealed that octanoic acid (75.8%), hexanoic acid (12.8%), and isobutyl pent-4-enyl carbonate (3.1%) were the major essential oil compounds. Octanoic acid and noni essential oil, when used as preventive measures, reduce fungal mycelial growth at a concentration of 5 mg/mL without causing significant damage to the treated leaves, which reinforces their efficacies as preventive tools against S. cucurbitacearum. Molecular docking analyses predicted very stable interactions between the major essential oil constituents and S. cucurbitacearum tyrosine-tRNA ligase, suggesting the interference of these plant-based molecules upon enzyme activation. Octanoic acid and M. citrifolia essential oil at concentrations of 20 mg/mL decreased the stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis rate of melon plants, resulting in robust phytotoxicity. Collectively, our findings indicated that despite the phytotoxicity risks at higher concentrations, M. citrifolia essential oil and octanoic acid, have potential as alternative tools for the integrative management of S. cucurbitacearum.

Automated summary

This study extracted and evaluated the composition of Morinda citrifolia essential oil and tested its activity against Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum. Molecular docking analyses predicted stable interactions between the major oil constituents and the fungal enzyme. The essential oil showed potential as a preventive measure against the fungus, but at higher concentrations, it had phytotoxic effects on the treated plants.